2. Fundamental Cultural Differences between European
settlers and Native Americans
European Enlightenment:
1. Natural Rights (Given by God or “The Creator”) Life, liberty and
PROPERTY (land)
2. Civil Rights (Given by the Government) freedom of speech, press,
assembly, religion, right to remain silent, trial by jury etc.
Natural rights come before civil rights.
VS.
Native Americans: “Man can not own land, land owns man”
In your opinion.. What is the single MOST important Civil Right in America? What is the LEAST important Natural
Right in America?
3. Culture
• There were many different Native American tribes
and those with similar characteristics formed a
main tribe or nation. Each had its own language,
religion and customs.
• For the most part the tribes lived peaceably
believing that nature was sacred and was to be
shared. However, the coming of the Europeans
and the removal of their land led to conflict both
between the different tribes and between the
Indians and whites.
4.
5. Look at the map on the previous slide.
Would the iroquois tribe have Totem Poles? Why or why not?
Would the Delaware hunt buffalo? Why or why not?
Are our mental images of Native Americans fair?
6. Individual Identities
• The men were generally hunters, warriors, and protectors,
while the women tended to the children, their homes, and
farmed.
• It depended on the tribe when it came to artwork. In some
tribes, the men would actually weave baskets and blankets.
• Natural foods were consumed and hunted. Deer, buffalo, fish,
and various birds were the game of choice. Corn, beans,
squash, berries, nuts, and melons were the fruits and
vegetables that were consumed. Berries were also often used
as a natural dye for fabrics.
7. Treaties made, treaties broken
• Many Americans have misperceptions that poverty should not
exist on reservations because Native people’s basic needs are
taken care of under treaties.
• Over 500 treaties were made with American Indian tribes,
primarily for land cessations, but 500 treaties were also broken,
changed or nullified when it served the government’s interests.
• How would treaties be broken?
– Create a new treaty.
– Agreed annuity payments would stop being made.
– Congress given legal right to break a treaty if in the
best interest of the nation
– Military force
http://avalon.law.yale.edu/19th_century/nt001.asp
8. Relocation
• While the late 1800's into the 1900's and beyond began to
bring struggle to the Native American Indians, they fought a
tough battle in pursuit of protecting their land.
• Many different laws were passed by various US presidents
stating that the Indians should be removed. In other cases,
bloody battles were fought with lives lost on both sides.
• The Native American Indians were forced out of their
homeland, prompting such legendary stories as the Trail of
Tears.
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3rJr4kgDdqU
9. How does fundamental Native
American culture (private
property) make RELOCATION
easier?
10. Jackson and Westward Expansion
• As westward American settlement came increasingly into
conflict with several Indian tribes.
• Was a crisis building since before the American Revolution
• Addressed when congress passed and Jackson enforced
the Indian Removal Act, which relocated several tribes
to Indian Territory (now Oklahoma).
• Cherokee Nation vs. Georgia
• Worchester vs. Georgia (1832) Cherokee rights upheld.
President Jackson IGNORES the decision
11. In your opinion… Should a person who is NOT a
citizen of the United States have the right to sue
for the rights granted to all citizens?
12. Andrew Jackson
• 7th President of the U.S.
(1829 -1837)
• Known for his fiery temper, Jackson's enemies
feared him.
• Fought against the Indians in the War of 1812
• Signed over 70 Indian Removal Treaties
• Relocated over 50,000 eastern Native Americans
to the areas west of the Mississippi River.
13. Andrew Jackson’s Attitude Toward Native Americans:
Quote #1
• "It will be my sincere and constant desire to observe toward the Indian tribes
within our limits a just and liberal policy, and to give that humane and considerate
attention to their rights and their wants which is consistent with the habits of our
Government and the feelings of our people." -- Andrew Jackson
• First Inaugural Address, March 4, 1829
• Jackson reassures the Indian tribes that their treatment under his administration
will be liberal, just and in accordance with the beliefs of the American people
• http://www.synaptic.bc.ca/ejournal/jackson.htm#.VAd2I_ldWOw
14. Andrew Jackson’s Attitude Toward Native Americans:
Quote #2
• "My original convictions upon this subject have been confirmed by the course of events for
several years, and experience is every day adding to their strength. That those tribes can not
exist surrounded by our settlements and in continual contact with our citizens is certain.
They have neither the intelligence, the industry, the moral habits, nor the desire of
improvement which are essential to any favorable change in their condition. Established in
the midst of another and a superior race, and without appreciating the causes of their
inferiority or seeking to control them, they must necessarily yield to the force of
circumstances and ere long disappear."-- Andrew Jackson
• Fifth Annual Message to Congress, December 3, 1833
• Survivors of Sac and Fox War of 1832 removed west of Mississippi; 'inferior' Georgian
Cherokee continue to resist 'force of circumstances' and refuse removal; Jackson reiterates
removal and 'political re-organisation' form the best and only option for continued
existence of eastern Indians.
• http://www.synaptic.bc.ca/ejournal/jackson.htm#.VAd2I_ldWOw
15. Andrew Jackson’s Attitude Toward Native Americans:
Quote #3
• "The national policy, founded alike in interest and in humanity, so long and so steadily pursued
by this Government for the removal of the Indian tribes originally settled on this side of the
Mississippi to the West of that river, may be said to have been consummated by the
conclusion of the late treaty with the Cherokees." -- Andrew Jackson
• Eighth Annual Message to Congress, December 5, 1836
• Indian wars force massive mobilization of troops, militia and volunteers; Seminoles
refuse to relocate and win early upper-hand in Second Seminole War; Urgent need for
further appropriations to 'suppress hostilities;' Creek defeated and relocated West of
Mississippi; Cherokee country pacified and secured by ongoing military vigilance;
Mexico authorizes expeditions to quell Indians beyond US frontier; Commissioner of
Indian Affairs suggests larger military presence in Indian country to protect Western
frontier from Indians, and the Indians from each other; Jackson prematurely declares
Indian Removal to be consummated--Cherokee forcibly relocated two years later in
1838.
• http://www.synaptic.bc.ca/ejournal/jackson.htm#.VAd2I_ldWOw
17. Forts on the Great Plains
What does the placement of these forts in the heart of the United States imply? Is the American government
looking to protect themselves from other countries or threats from withn?
18. Assimilation
• the process of adapting or adjusting to the
culture of a group or nation
Eventually many Native Americans simply
adopted the European way of dress and
even religion, with many Indians
converting over to Christianity.
• Today, there are approximately 560 federally
recognized Native American tribes within the
United States.
19. Think about your own nationality and heritage.
How have you and your family assimilated?
Have your people assimilated well to the
American way of life?
20. The Dawes Act
or
Indian Homestead Act (1871)
Ended the Treaty System
-Land Allotments (160 acres each)
-Citizenship (Dual Citizenship)
-Children Given to boarding school
-Had to become members of the Church
-Had to wear certain clothes
-Women could not own the land after man of
the house died
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iKPgTLlamJ8
21. After watching the video on the previous slide.
Can you compare the forced assimilation of
Native American children to anything else?
22.
23.
24.
25. Look at the map of current Native American
Reservations. Do you agree with the amount of land
given to Native Americans? From what you know
about the natural resources of these lands would you
consider the Real Estate valuable by most American
standards?
26. Problems – then and now.
• Many face problems such as poverty, alcohol abuse, and heart
disease.
• Fortunately there are some who want to be sure the Native
American history and way of life is preserved, so that we never
forget the important role they have played in the development of
this nation.
• The video below about policies toward the Lakota gives many
examples of this, and the practice was not limited to tribes in the
Plains. It is also true that some tribes have no treaties and many
tribes remain unrecognized as tribes by the federal government
which leaves them without reservation trust land and federal
programming.
• The fact is that many Native American people are suffering and
we should all care about that.
• http://blog.nrcprograms.org/treaties-made-treaties-broken/
27. Stereotypes
• A widely held but fixed and oversimplified image or
idea of a particular type of person or thing.
Native American Stereotypes:
By the time "Injuns" made it to the Western movies of
the 1950s, directors generalized many Sioux traditions—
such as hunting and feather headdresses—to all Indians.
"The old movies rely on a homogenized Indian," says
Karen Biestman of the University of California. "He is
usually male, wears buckskin, beads, feathers, has a
pinto pony, and is savage, uncaring, and brutal. But it's a
shallow image."
29. Positive Imagery
Spirit Horse of the Cherokee
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zBT5u45
xYs0
Dances with Wolves
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dPzeY9it
fLE
30. Spirit Animals
• Native American animal symbols can encompass
just about all the animals, and their symbolic
representation to the many tribes of the
Americas.
• Birth animals - or zodiac animals.
• Many Native American cultures have the belief
that a person is assigned an animal upon the time
of birth.
– http://www.whats-your-sign.com/animal-totems.html
31.
32. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJlIwTTd5qw
The Keystone Pipeline…..
Are the troubles over for Native
Americans today???
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCPWjg-bXTY
Should lower energy prices be considered more important to Native American rights to control their own
land? What influence should the American government have on Native American lands that fall within
the borders of the United States?
33. “Redskins” Issue
• The Washington Redskins name controversy involves the
name and logo of the National Football League (NFL)
franchise located in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan
area. Numerous civil rights, educational, athletic, and
academic organizations consider the use of Native
American names and/or symbols by non-native sports
teams to be a harmful form of ethnic stereotyping that
contributes to all of the other problems faced by Native
Americans.
34. What do you think about the recent decision to
rename the Washington DC NFL football
franchise?
35.
36.
37.
38.
39.
40.
41.
42. Go to the following link for some facts.
http://www.ncai.org/about-tribes/demographics
In your opinion what is the largest challenge facing Native
Americans today and why? What do you think would be
the best way to help these people?
43. Terms you must know!!!
Natural Rights
Civil Rights
Relocation Policy
Assimilation Policy
Stereotype
Reservation
